The US president Donald Trump has approved an emergency declaration for the Northern Marianas as it braces for Super Typhoon Yutu.
The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of over 240 km per hour, according to the National Weather Service in Guam.
Super Typhoon Yutu is forecast to continue intensifying through Friday and pass near Tinian as a category 5 system. Photo: NOAA - https://www.goes.noaa.gov/guam/
Yutu is expected to continue intensifying through at least Friday and is forecast to pass near Tinian as an extremely dangerous Category 5 typhoon.
Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center for over 100 kilometres.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center for over 300 kilometres.
Governor Ralph Torres said president Trump's approval of the emergency declaration will enable the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide the appropriate assistance and put in place emergency measures necessary to save lives and protect property.
Governor Torres said a Typhoon Condition 1 alert was in place for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and Tropical Storm Condition 1 on Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan.